Mayor Sheldon Neeley

City of Flint

Sheldon A. Neeley is a lifelong resident of Flint, a devoted husband and father, and a man of faith with a deep, enduring commitment to public service and uplifting the community.

Born on September 20, 1969, at Hurley Medical Center, Mayor Neeley is the proud son of Marva and Sam Neeley. He began his educational journey at Bunche Elementary School and graduated from Flint Northern High School in 1986. He earned an associate degree from Delta College and also attended Saginaw Valley State University.

Before entering public office, Mayor Neeley worked for 27 years as a broadcast engineer with WJRT-ABC 12 and served as the local union president of the National Association of Broadcast Employees and Technicians–Communication Workers of America (NABET-CWA) until 2020. He also served Flint students as a counselor in Flint Community Schools for a decade and was the volunteer CEO of the Flint Inner City Junior Golf League, an organization founded by his father to mentor youth through sportsmanship and discipline.

Neeley’s path to public service began in 2002 with an appointment to the Flint Civil Service Commission. In 2005, he was elected to the Flint City Council—becoming the first African-American elected to represent the 6th Ward, a diverse and historic part of Flint’s central west side. During his three terms on the council, he championed anti-truancy ordinances and helped rename a key corridor “University Avenue,” linking the campuses of Kettering University and the University of Michigan-Flint.

In 2014, Flint residents elected Neeley to the Michigan House of Representatives for the 34th District. He emerged from a crowded primary field and secured more than 90% of the vote in the general election, going on to win re-election in both 2016 and 2018. As a state legislator, he became a key advocate during the Flint Water Crisis—securing millions in state funding for residents and successfully passing legislation requiring public notification when harmful substances are detected in drinking water.

On November 5, 2019, Neeley was elected as the 95th mayor of Flint, vowing to restore transparency and fiscal responsibility at City Hall. In his first term, he launched a top-to-bottom operational audit of city operations, led Flint’s proactive response to the COVID-19 pandemic, expanded blight removal efforts, and advanced reforms to promote equity and public trust. Flint residents re-elected him in November 2022 to continue building on this progress.

Mayor Neeley and his wife, Cynthia Renay Neeley—also a dedicated public servant—have been married since 1992. They are proud parents of two children, Taylor and Morgan. He is a longtime member of Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church and an avid golfer—though he seldom finds time to play. Above all, he remains a passionate champion for the City of Flint, often summing up his life and mission in two simple words: “I’m blessed.”

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Presentation(s):

• Leading Cities Through Change: Mayors Panel

  Sunday, April 26, 2026
  1:00 PM - 1:45 PM CT